Connect Employees and Secure Your Network With Affordable New Hardware

The 200 Series Switches and RV 220W Network Security Firewall help make your network safer, more flexible

Many small companies want to give their employees options for getting their work done, especially now that so many people are using smart phones and tablet computers like the iPad to run productivity apps. These options include allowing remote access to the network, adding wireless services to the existing network, or enabling voice services.

This increase in connectivity options, however, comes with a security risk. It’s a balancing act that all companies—regardless of size—need to perform: You don’t want to risk unauthorized access via remote or wireless connections, so your network security measures should keep pace with your connectivity options.

The bottom line is that it all starts with the underlying hardware.

When looking to build out your network, focus on core networking products designed for small businesses, which provide the advanced features you need at an affordable price. These products are also easier to use than those designed for larger companies. (If you’re just starting to build a small business network, this post will give you some pointers.)

The 200 Series are a family of nine smart switches, which means they offer more features than an unmanaged switch but not all the advanced features of a managed switch. This makes the 200 Series Switches ideal for when you need more from your switch but aren’t ready to make the investment in a device that has more features than you need.

The 200 switches can meet a variety of small business needs, no matter what business applications you want to deploy. These devices include entry-level managed switch features, including security, quality of service (QoS), Power-over-Ethernet, and traffic control capabilities. In addition, these switches provide energy efficient features, such as a fanless design and the ability to automatically power down inactive links.

Available in either Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet models, the 200 switches are designed to support high-speed desktop connectivity, so you can securely connect employees to each other as well as to the servers and printers in your office. With Gigabit Ethernet speeds, you can give employees enough bandwidth to work on mobile devices or provide voice and video services over your network.

RV220W Network Security Firewall delivers high-performance security

The RV220W Network Security Firewall is a small business router that allows you to securely connect your company to the Internet, other offices, and employees working remotely. It features high-speed Gigabit Ethernet connections—to the Internet and other devices in your office—and a selectable dual-band wireless-n access point for ease in moving large files or viewing streaming video.

Designed to provide greater flexibility for highly secure, remote connections, the RV220W supports two kinds of VPN connections—IP Security (IPsec) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which is often called a hybrid VPN. IPsec VPN enables other offices to connect just as if they were physically connected to the primary business network. SSL VPN, which allows secure connections through any web browser, is application-specific, allowing you to provide controlled access to business partners and others without compromising critical data.

To further lock down your network, this firewall lets you segment your network into four separate virtual LANs (VLANs). You also can get additional protection from a variety of Internet-based threats with the optional Cisco ProtectLink Web, a cloud-based security service.

How has your business handled the increased security risks that remote or distributed workforces bring?

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